A Tamia's Tale

It was a sight he truly despised.

A place where succubi lived in their twisted version of 'peace,' unbothered by the outside world, as they indulged in their warped daily routines. Humans, stripped of their dignity, were treated as nothing more than livestock, their suffering reduced to a backdrop for the succubi's charade of civilization.

They mimicked human behaviors, wore human clothes, and structured their society in eerie imitation of the very beings they subjugated. The grotesque parody of humanity left Luka with a bitter taste in his mouth.

When he'd first stepped into this place, a part of him had held out hope. Hope that it would be something different—a land untouched by the vices of man, a magical haven that might enchant him.

Oh, how misguided he'd been.

The ornate doors swung open with a creak, revealing a grand lounge draped in opulence. The queen reclined lazily on a Roman-style couch, her golden hair cascading like liquid sunlight over her shoulders. She was plucking grapes from a silver platter and eating them one by one, her movements languid and indulgent.

On either side of her, two other succubi lounged in a tangled heap of limbs, their laughter soft and teasing as they played with one another like cats bored with their prey. The air was thick with the sickly sweet aroma of incense, and the flickering light of enchanted chandeliers cast dancing shadows across the walls.

The queen's golden eyes shifted lazily to Luka and Saki as they entered. 

"So," she drawled, her voice smooth and rich like honey. "You're the ones who demanded an audience. How bold of you to walk here uninvited." Her gaze lingered on Luka, sizing him up, before flicking briefly to Saki.

Luka stepped forward, enticing a frown on the two others who clearly didn't enjoy his bold attitude. With a relaxed posture and his gaze unwavering, he began.

"I'll be blunt. With the war brewing against the demons, mankind needs all the help they can get. That's why I'm here to ask for your help in the matter."

The room fell silent, the queen looked stunned. The two other succubi who were playing with one another burst into laughter. 

"Ahahaha! What the hell? Who does this human think he is?" one of them cackled, clutching her chest as she doubled over, tears forming in her eyes from laughing so hard.

The other smirked, leaning lazily against the queen's couch. "Oh, this is rich," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think we would lower ourselves to fight in your little war? How precious."

Saki tensed beside Luka, her wings shifting uncomfortably as the mockery unfolded. But Luka remained still, his expression calm, his gaze fixed on the queen. The two subordinates were not his goal.

After all, the queen wasn't laughing at all, she was dead serious and conflicted. 

After a while, she raised her hand, and the laughter ceased instantly. 

With a sharp gaze toward the two others, she clicked her tongue and locked her eyes back onto Luka's. "First off…" she began, leaning forward slightly. "I would like to ask you a question."

Luka inclined his head in a slight bow, his voice steady and respectful. "Ask away."

The queen placed the cluster of grapes on the silver platter, her movements deliberate, as though choosing her next words carefully. Her gaze didn't waver. "Why did you present yourself as a hero?"

"Because otherwise you wouldn't have given me an audience," he replied with honesty.

A flicker of amusement crossed her face, brief but noticeable. She leaned back slightly, tapping a manicured nail against the edge of the platter. "And what makes you think I would accept your demand?"

"Because only an idiot would let Kaeris kill your only source of food."

The two subordinate succubi sprang to their feet, their faces twisting with fury.

"How dare you—!" one of them hissed, raising her hand, dark magic crackling in her palm as she prepared to strike.

Saki stepped up, shielding Luka with her arms raised. 

"Enough," However, the queen snapped her fingers and cast a menacing glare toward the two aggressive succubi. "He is a guest." 

The two subordinates froze, their magic dissipating as they reluctantly stepped back. Their gaze lingered on Luka with gritted teeth, clearly not hiding their hostility.

Saki exhaled slowly, her wings folding back into place as she lowered her arms. She glanced at Luka, her expression tense but grateful for the queen's intervention.

The queen returned her focus to Luka with a smile. "You're right. But what makes you think we haven't already pledged allegiance to the liberator?"

"Because a guy like him would not stop at just destroying human civilization. He intends to wipe out humanity."

At least that's what Daji told me, he thought.

"And I refuse to believe that a leader like you didn't consider such a possibility," he continued. 

The queen closed her eyes in deep thought and exhaled slowly.

After a tense pause, she spoke. "I accept to help. But on one condition."

"What?!" the two subordinates exclaimed in unison, their faces a mix of shock and outrage. "You would listen to him?"

The queen's golden eyes flicked to them, silencing their protests with a single, icy glare. "Enough," she said coldly, her tone brooking no argument. "My decision is final."

Her gaze returned to Luka, calculating. "I cannot go into war unprepared. And most of the succubi under my command are independent—they barely respect my authority. I need more than promises."

Luka nodded, understanding. "What do you need?"

"There is a succubus that proposed me a plan. One that could give me the support of a good portion of the city. Help her in achieving it, and you may have what you desire."

Luka's brow furrowed slightly. "And what is this plan?"

The queen leaned forward, her posture rigid. "Multiple factions of my kind are fighting for power. They believe the current balance of power is fragile, and they want to see if destroyed in favor of something more… chaotic. I, on the other hand, am fighting to protect my brethren."

Before Luka could respond, one of the subordinates interrupted with a pout. "I wish you'd let us go outside more often, Queenie…" she murmured, her tone full of mock disappointment.

The queen barely acknowledged the comment, her expression cold and unamused. "A 'no' is a 'no.'"

The other subordinate leaned forward, her voice dripping with skepticism. "And you're going to let this Dreamweaver realize her plan? Imagine if she intends to overthrow you!" the other exclaimed.

The queen's gaze turned frosty, her patience wearing thin. "Her plan is a good one," she replied, her voice hard as steel. "Don't make me repeat myself." She then turned back to Luka, her demeanor shifting back to calm but no less commanding. "She lives in the slums. Her… 'house', is filled with chemicals and potions. You can't miss her. Tell her I sent you."

 "Understood," Luka said, turning toward the exit.

As he reached the door, the queen's voice stopped him.

"You there," she called, her tone softening as she gazed at Saki. "Who are you?"

Saki stiffened under the queen's intense scrutiny, but her voice remained steady. "I'm Saki. Luka's friend."

The queen studied her for a long moment, her golden eyes sharp. "Friend?" she repeated as if tasting the word, before a slight smirk curled at the corner of her lips. "A friend, hm? I know almost every succubi here but I've never seen your face." 

"I was born outside," Saki responded, her tail twitching slightly at the attention. 

The queen's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression unreadable. "Outside, you say?" she murmured. "Why are you following that human?"

Saki could hear the two subordinates snicker, their mocking laughter low but evident, as they exchanged knowing glances at the word 'friend.'

Saki's tail twitched in irritation, but she kept her composure. "I'm not following him. I'm… helping him."

The queen's gaze lingered on Saki for a moment longer, as if weighing her words, before she gave a slow, deliberate nod. "Helping… I wonder if it's out of goodwill…" she muttered under her breath pensively. "Well, if you're so intent on helping him. I hope you can protect him here, otherwise he won't last long," she smirked before waving them off.

Saki straightened, her eyes narrowing just a touch as the queen's words sank in. "I can protect him."

The queen didn't reply, her gaze moving past them with disinterest as she leaned back into her throne, signaling the end of the conversation.

Luka turned to Saki, offering a brief but reassuring glance. "Let's go. We have work to do."

With one last glance at the queen, Saki followed him out.

As they stepped through the massive doors and into the manor's hallway, one of the subordinates spoke up to her queen.

"She is a Dreamweaver too, isn't she?" she said, her tone laced with disdain.

"I believe so, yes," the queen answered casually, swirling the dark wine in her goblet.

"What an idiot," the subordinate continued. "She should've eaten him before coming here. I'll be laughing my heart out when she finds him dead tomorrow."

The queen chuckled softly, but there was no real warmth in the sound. "What, you intend to pay him a visit?" 

"Of course, my queen," the subordinate replied, licking her lips with a predatory gleam in her eyes. "It's been a while since I've had such delicacy."

"Let's hope you survive, then." the queen sneered as she took a gulp of wine.

Meanwhile, Luka and Saki finally left the manor and found themselves at the place again. The auction was still going, despite having already sold the man they had seen earlier.

"So…" Luka started, looking around. "Where are the slums?"

"This way," Saki pointed left, her hand gesturing toward a narrow, dimly lit alley that seemed to lead deeper into the city's underbelly. "It's not the brightest place, so prepare yourself."

Luka shrugged. "These are slums. I don't expect much to be honest," he chuckled. "Let's make sure we find a place to sleep at least for tonight."

Saki sighed. "That's the least of our concerns. There are no places here where you are safe, Luka." 

"Well, I'll just count on you to protect me," Luka teased, passing by her and giving her a casual pat on the shoulder.

Saki's tail flicked with irritation, but she said nothing, keeping a steady pace as they walked through the increasingly rundown part of the city. The air grew thick, filled with the smell of decay, and the succubi they passed seemed more wary than before. 

The further they went, the darker the streets became. The purple sky that lit the city became further dimmed as if the veil covering it stopped short here. 

This is not normal… His teeth ground together as he surveyed the surroundings. There was something unsettling about this place—something far worse than even the human farms he'd seen before. The air itself felt oppressive, almost suffocating. The smell of rotting corpses hung thick in the air, and succubi slumped on the cold ground, their gazes vacant, indifferent to the world around them. It felt like a place where life and death mingled indistinguishably, a forgotten corner of the world where even hope had no place.

Looking at Saki, he could tell she wasn't enjoying her time here. Furthermore, he had learned she wasn't from this place but born elsewhere.

Then how does she know so much about this place? He thought. The more his mind raced, the more he realized how little he knew about Saki. She was an itinerant performer back when he met her in Sora, but…

How old was she? Where did she come from? 

He had no answers. He didn't even know how long her species could live or even how they reproduced. And after a bit of a walk, Saki spotted a nearby shack that looked a lot like the queen's description. 

The building was made of dark, worn wood, and the faint glow of blue torches flickered at its entrance. The air around it smelled faintly of flowers—violet ones in particular—a stark contrast to the harshness of the surrounding slums.

"That… looks like it," Saki muttered, her eyes scanning the shack, as if she were taking in every detail.

Luka glanced at her, brow furrowed. "Let's knock at the door."

Before Luka could even raise his hand to knock, the door creaked open abruptly, as if it had been waiting for them. The sudden movement caught him off guard, and he instinctively stepped back, his hand reaching toward his pocket.

A figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the dim light inside. The scent of flowers grew stronger, mixing with the fain, metallic tang of chemicals in the air. The succubus didn't speak at first, just stood the, eyeing them carefully through the lens of her glasses.

"Please do not knock, the door is very fragile." the woman finally said, her voice smooth but monotone. 

"T-That much?" Luka stammered, a bit taken aback by the implications. However, he quickly composed himself as he took in the figure in front of him. 

If it wasn't for being in the Ark, he wouldn't even realized she was a succubus. Her long, straight brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her calm demeanor suggested a certain detachment from the world. The faint purple hue to her pupils, however, revealed her supernatural nature.

What Luka noticed the most was her white coat, similar to those used in laboratories, worn over a black shirt.

Saki was the first to step forward. "You're living here?" 

The succubus gave a slight nod. "Yes. I assume you're here for something… specific?"

Luka couldn't shake the odd feeling creeping down his spine. Despite her seemingly calm demeanor, the way she studied them felt like she was sizing them up—probing them for weaknesses.

Saki didn't hesitate. "We're here because the queen asked us to assist you."

The woman tilted her head slightly, as if considering Saki's words. "I see." She stepped aside, motioning for them to enter. "Please come in."

Luka hesitated but followed Saki inside. The interior of the shack was nicer than the slums but still worn out. Shelves were lined with jars and vials of unknown substances and somewhat held together with books. Speaking of books, many others were scattered on the floor, either in piles or opened and stacked against the foot of the bed. 

A small desk, barely holding together due to makeshift repairs, sat against one wall, cluttered with more books and scribbled notes, its surface covered in patches of ink stains. Above it, a small glass window had been shattered, with jagged edges still clinging to the frame, letting in only a trickle of dim light from the outside.

The woman closed the door behind them, the sound echoing softly in the cramped room. "Did you have to bring your food with you?" she asked, glancing at Luka and then at Saki. 

"Huh…" the man scratched his cheek. "Actually, I'm the one sent here to help. I made a deal with the queen."

"Right," Saki nodded. "Luka is my friend, nothing more."

The woman studied them for a moment, her gaze flickering from Luka to Saki, then back again. Then, as if she was satisfied she turned around and opened a drawer to pick up a book from it. Casually, as she flipped the page, she resumed the conversation.

"It's rather… unusual for the queen to let a human do as he pleases here," she remarked, her eyes flickering up to meet Luka's briefly before returning to the pages in front of her.

"I'm here because I thought succubi could help mankind in the fight against Kaeris."

The woman didn't respond right away, her gaze focused on the book as she flipped another page, the sound of the rustling paper the only noise in the room. Then, with a deliberate motion, she paused, pointing at something in the book and nodding in acknowledgment. "I see," she said slowly. "So the queen asked you to help me in return. She is conniving as always…" She sighed, as if the mention of the queen was a burden, and then closed the book with a soft thud.

There was a long silence before she spoke again, her voice more detached now. "Then I'll explain what you can do for me. I'm preparing a spell that will help the lower-class succubi restore their mana," she explained.

Luka took in the new information, his brows knitting together. "I saw that... A lot of succubi live here, in the slums."

The succubus nodded, her hands slipping casually into her pockets. "Right. Well, many succubi are starving. With my invention, we could stop that."

"Which explains why the queen said she would have more allies after that..." Luka murmured, piecing together the fragments of their conversation.

She gave him a dry, knowing look. "Exactly. Our faction could easily depend on the queen's power and then pledge allegiance to her."

"Wait," Saki interjected. "I thought you were the one that was creating this spell."

The succubus gave her a cold look before answering. "I depend on the queen's resources. Our contract stipulates that my invention will return to her hands."

"Anyway," the succubus continued, her tone shifting as she approached Luka with an analytical gaze. "The question is what can you bring to me. You look…" She grasped his wrist with a swift motion and studied his palm with an intense focus. "Rather weak."

Luka remained silent, but an unease settled over him. He couldn't explain it, but something about her made him feel exposed—vulnerable. The succubus before him was unlike any other he'd encountered so far. All the others he had seen, including Saki, had worn revealing clothing and had played some form of seduction, whether consciously or not. But this one… she was different. She didn't care about any of that.

It was as if the typical game of charm and allure meant nothing to her. Her focus was sharp, calculating. Her eyes didn't seem to see him as a man or a potential meal—just another piece in whatever grand scheme she was weaving.

Luka could feel his heart rate quicken, a strange tension building between them as she continued to examine his hand.

Finally, she released his wrist and stepped back. "I'm not impressed," she said flatly, her tone devoid of judgment, only clinical. "But perhaps you have other qualities. For now, that will do."

"I know I have little mana," Luka nodded. "But I can use magic."

The succubus lowered her gaze, her eyes flickering over him with a critical intensity. "I can tell," she said, almost dismissively, as she turned away. "The jacket you're wearing is close to a divine artifact, and you possess the control trait." She paused, as if considering her next words carefully. "I can already tell you use a form of magic that relies on either enchanted objects or magical items."

Luka's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected her to notice the jacket so quickly—let alone identify the magic it was imbued with. The garment wasn't anything special in appearance, and no one ever noticed its unlimited storage capacity. 

"So, you know about my jacket..." Luka said, trying to mask his surprise.

She gave him a sidelong glance, her lips curling into something that might have been an amused smirk, though her expression remained mostly impassive. "I can tell an amateur from a pro at a glance. Besides, I've seen this type of magic before." She opened another drawer, pulling out a small pouch. With a fluid motion, she untied the knot and began pulling out vials—more than the pouch should reasonably hold.

Saki blinked, her eyes widening at the sight. "So you have the same..." she trailed off, clearly astonished by the display.

The succubus didn't look up from her task as she packed the vials away. "Anyway," she sighed, seeming mildly inconvenienced by the exchange. "It's nothing special. But it can come in handy. Besides, I need some help, so you'll do."

She turned abruptly, picking up a crystal ball from the desk. Blowing on it lightly, she scattered a fine dust into the air, making it swirl around them like mist. "Do you know how to perform scrying?"

Luka frowned, uncertain. "Scrying? You mean using magic to see distant places or people?"

"Exactly," she replied. "I need someone who can find specific things for me. Can you do it?" She leaned forward, handing him over the crystal ball.

Saki looked at him with skepticism and even he was a bit taken aback by the question. He had never even tried it before.

It was magic in the realm of divination, a highly random and unpredictable form of magic that demanded years of practice and experience. There was no way he could pull it off.

"You can't do it, huh?" she sighed.

He gave a half-hearted shrug. "I don't know. I've never tried."

She clicked her tongue, as if she had already written him off. "I figured as much." She took the ball back from him and placed it on the desk. "Maybe you're not as useful as I thought."

"Besides, it's soon night," Saki interjected. "Maybe we could see what to do tomorrow morning?"

The succubus turned her head and cast a sideways glance at her. "You're quite hopeful. I don't think your 'friend' here is going to survive the night. If you're a succubus, you should know why."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Luka's voice dropped with confusion, his brow furrowing.

"Every girl you passed on the way here," she explained slowly as if she realized they were slow to understand. "Each and every one of them saw you as a potential snack. They're going to arrive once you sleep and try to take you."

"Oh, that?" Luka shrugged. "Don't worry, it will be fine."

The succubus' expression didn't change. "You really think so? You've already made yourself a target. Succubi can't restrain their hunger like others. And once you fall asleep… It'll be over for you."

"Yeah, but I got a Saki, so no worries," he said patting his friend's shoulder.

"Yup!" Saki pumped her fist. "Don't worry, I'll watch over him at night."

The succubus narrowed her eyes, studying them both. "You mean you'll eat him?"

"What? No!" Saki protested, her face flashing with shock.

"But you are…" she trailed off, her brows furrowing. "Nevermind. I wish you good luck and hope to see you tomorrow."

She turned her back to them and went back to her desk, her attention now fully absorbed by the scattered books and vials.

Luka cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing at the woman. "Do… do you have an idea where I could sleep though?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of weariness.

The succubus didn't even look up as she responded, her tone cold but not unkind. "There are many abandoned shacks around here. You can take one."

"Thank you, miss…" Saki trailed off, hoping for some kind of response or acknowledgment, but the succubus remained silent, too absorbed in her books to offer further conversation.

With no more words exchanged, Luka and Saki exchanged glances. Luka gave a small, resigned sigh, and Saki gave him a reassuring nod.

As they left the room, the door creaked shut behind them, leaving them in the cold and dark alleyway. 

"Let's go and find a place to rest," Luka said, his tone flat, eyes scanning the dark alleyway for any sign of an abandoned shack.

"Yeah… I'm already spent," Saki muttered, rubbing her eyes.

After what felt like an hour, they finally found a small place to rest. It was isolated enough for them to feel safe and it wasn't as destroyed as the other shack they had found. Next to a wall of stone from a cliff, the shack looked hastily built and even construction material was scattered around on the ground.

"We can rest here for the night," Luka suggested, pushing the door open. It creaked loudly but didn't fall off its hinges. Inside, the shack was bare, save for a few remnants of what might have been furniture—broken chairs and a dusty bed leaning against the wall.

"Better than nothing," Saki agreed, stepping inside with a tired sigh.

Luka shut the door behind them, the wooden planks groaning against their weight. The shack wasn't much, but at least it offered some form of shelter from the night's chill of the Ark. They both settled down, Luka sitting cross-legged against the wall while Saki leaned against the stone wall, her head tilting back.

With a deep exhale, Saki slumped to the floor. "I'm so tired… I hate this place."

"Explains why you didn't want to come here," Luka chuckled. "You're not even from the valley."

Saki's lips curled into a small, tired smile. "I vastly prefer human settlements. Even if I have to hide." She let out a long sigh, her eyes fluttering shut. "But no, you HAD to come here and drag me along."

"Okay, don't twist the story here. You're the one who's following me."

Saki opened one eye, giving him a sideways glance. "It's not too late to leave and head back to a safe place, you know."

"What, you still want to walk?" 

"No, please! I beg, anything but that."

"Then shut up and rest."

Saki let out a soft laugh, settling back against the wall. "Fine, fine. Rest it is."

"Well then, I'll get some sleep. I count on you for my safety."

With that, he threw himself on the dusty bed, letting out a small grunt as he settled into it. The bed creaked under his weight, but it held up. He tugged a threadbare blanket over himself, staring up at the cracked ceiling for a moment before closing his eyes.

Saki glanced over at him, shaking her head with a fond but exasperated expression. She glanced around the room, then finally let herself slide into a more comfortable position against the stone wall. Her legs stretched out in front of her, her arms crossed, but even in her exhausted state, her senses remained sharp.

"Say, Luka…" she said, her voice soft. "You said nothing about this place yet. Aren't you… Disappointed? Angry?"

"Why? Does it matter to you?"

"Of course it does…"

Luka didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained closed, but the question lingered in the air between them. He shifted slightly on the bed, the old wood creaking under him, but his mind was still. He wasn't sure why Saki's question was making him pause.

"Humans are nothing but food to succubi. I told you they were evil creatures…" she continued, her arms crossing around her legs. 

"Evil?" Luka whispered, his eyes opening to the ceiling. "You're different. You like humans. It's just a matter of perspective."

"You think I'm better than them?" Saki chuckled.

"Yeah. I mean, you don't kill anyone. That means we can coexist, in a way."

Saki stayed silent, leaving the sound of the creaking wood to fill the air. Luka waited for her to say something, but when she did, it wasn't what he expected. 

"I really didn't want you to come here…" Her voice was strained, quieter than before, as though she was working through something heavy. "Now you must hate me."

Luka blinked, taken aback by her words. He turned his head slightly to glance at her, seeing the way her posture had tensed. 

"Why would I hate you?" he asked. "I don't hate you. I don't even know you enough to hate you."

"You saw how succubi treated humans here. Do you want to know why I traveled from city to city?"

Luka shifted slightly, giving her his full attention. "Why?"

Saki let out a slow, almost defeated sigh. "Because I couldn't stand it. I couldn't be around that. I realized that we were nothing more than monsters that needed to disappear."

"Humans are amazing," she whispered with a tinge of admiration. "You support each other, you create magnificent things, you live your dreams… You're kind. Of course, you're not perfect either but…"

"I was like them before." she finally said, her voice dropping low. "Just like the succubi of this city."

It was a long time ago. From that day onward, she swore she would never hurt a human ever again.

"I killed a man," she admitted. "Usually, the process is pleasant for them but…"

He was crying. Lashing out and fighting for his life, knowing that he was slowly being devoured by her.

He called out for help. But no one answered.

At the time, she was weak. So she could only do it slowly and it dragged on. For multiple minutes, the man screamed and screamed until his voice broke out. 

She was starving and there was no other way. 

Even if that man had saved her life. 

"See?" she said, her voice laced with bitterness. "That's the kind of person you've been traveling with. All these succubi that treat humans as livestock? I was like that before."

"You have every right to be angry. I've fooled you after all."

Saki's voice dropped and she stared at the floor. Luka was silent, his gaze never leaving her. It was true, she did fool him. He always thought she wasn't a murderer but…

She wasn't human but a succubus. 

"But you're not doing it anymore, right?" Luka's voice was quiet but firm, pulling her from the haze of her memory.

Saki blinked. Her lips parted as if she were going to say something, but the words wouldn't come. She stared at him, her eyes glistening. 

She wanted to deny it, to say she was beyond redemption. 

After all, it was only one thing. She hadn't told him everything yet. 

But above all, she couldn't understand how he could just dismiss it so casually. 

"It was to survive, right?" he continued, his eyes staring at the ceiling. "Then no one can blame you."

"What are you—I killed someone!" she cried out, her voice cracking. 

Why? Why wasn't he angry at her, or vengeful? Why wasn't he denouncing this city, the unfair treatment of the humans living there? 

Luka turned his head toward her, meeting her gaze. His expression was calm, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—empathy, perhaps, or a quiet understanding. "I'm not saying it's okay, Saki. I'm saying I understand. You didn't have a choice."

Her breath hitched, and she shook her head vehemently. "Don't excuse it. Don't try to make it sound better than it was. That man... he didn't deserve to die like that."

"Perhaps…" Luka admitted. 

"Then what do you have to say to those who auctioned those humans earlier? Or the kids?" Saki stared at him, her lips trembling. "How can you forgive me so easily?"

Luka sat up slightly, leaning his elbows on his knees as he let out a heavy sigh. "Don't get me wrong, I hate this city," he said, his gaze dropping to the floor. "But not for the reasons you speak of."

"What… What do you mean?"

"I hate this place because it's clear it's a twisted imitation of human society. An exaggerated one, if you like. It's like someone took all the worst parts of how humans treat each other, amplified them, and turned it into a way of life."

"Listen, Saki," Luka continued, his tone softer now. "I don't hate succubi. And I certainly don't hate you. In fact, I respect you—because you're trying. You've chosen to fight against your nature. That takes strength."

She opened her mouth to argue, but Luka held up a hand, stopping her.

 "The truth is, I can't stand here as a human and point fingers. Our world is full of its own horrors. We create systems of suffering too—farms where animals are bred and slaughtered, forests torn down for profit, entire communities trampled for industrial progress. And we tell ourselves it's necessary to survive, to thrive."

"What they're doing to humans here, it's no different," he finally said. 

Saki stared at him, her eyes wide with a mix of horror and disbelief. "You're… serious?"

Luka nodded. "Completely. What I hate about this city isn't the fact that succubi are predators. It's that, despite being a species above humans, despite being capable of so much more, they've fallen into the same cycle of greed, cruelty, and indulgence. They've made the same mistakes we have."

"I don't blame them for creating these systems either, because we're no better and sometimes, certain ways of life are necessary."

She blinked, stunned by his perspective. "You mean to say… you expected more of us?"

Luka shrugged. "You're supposed to be above us, aren't you? The predators of apex predators. And yet, this city isn't proof of superiority—it's proof of fragility. Proof that succubi are just as vulnerable to their own vices as humans are. In the end… You're like us."

Saki's lips trembled as she processed his words. "You really believe that?"

"Yes," Luka said firmly. "And that's why I respect what you're doing, Saki. You saw through it. You refused to let yourself become part of this system again. That's strength—not just for a succubus, but for anyone."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't bother wiping them away this time. Instead, she sat silently, the weight of Luka's words sinking deep into her heart.

What was he even saying?

He truly didn't know anything.

Then, with a strained voice, she asked. "So you're saying… Their way of life is evil?"

"No," Luka replied, shaking his head. "I have no right to judge what's evil or not. People—be they humans or succubi—live based on what they've been taught, what they know, and what they need to survive. It's not my place to label that as evil."

Saki looked at him, confusion flickering in her expression. "Then what do you call this? The auctions, the humans in cages, the farms? If it's not evil, what is it?"

"Selfishness and optimization," Luka said after a moment of thought. "It's selfishness, and it's a system optimized for the people here—succubi, specifically. But calling it evil… that makes it easy to dismiss, doesn't it? If the people here are evil, then..."

He trailed off, his eyes darkening as a bitter thought surfaced.

My world is far worse.

"Never mind," Luka said quickly, shaking his head apologetically. "I'm talking too much. Let's get some sleep. We have work tomorrow."

Saki stared at him, her emotions swirling. 

The more she thought about it, the less she understood him. 

"Alright," she said softly, almost hesitantly. "Goodnight, Luka." She glanced at him one last time before lying down, her thoughts heavy with everything he had said.

One thought swirled in her mind, relentlessly.

Who was Luka? What kind of life did he have before coming here to have such thoughts? 

She didn't know. 

What she did know, however, was that Luka was unlike anyone she had ever met. He wasn't just special in the sense of being different—he was rare, someone who could look at a broken system and see past the blame and hatred. Someone who could look at her, see her darkness, and still choose to stand beside her.

Perhaps the world didn't see Luka as extraordinary. Perhaps no one else would.

But to her, he was.

If he could accept her for what she was—broken, flawed, and trying—then maybe, just maybe, she could learn to accept herself too.

The thought brought a fragile warmth to her chest, enough to steady her restless mind.

The night deepened, the city's noises fading into the background.

For the first time in a long while, Saki felt a glimmer of peace, a fragile hope that maybe, with someone like Luka by her side, she could face whatever the future held.

And as sleep finally claimed her, a quiet determination began to take root in her heart.

No matter what lay ahead, she wouldn't let Luka's faith in her be in vain.

The night settled, and with it, a quiet promise.